Z"L

RIP Maj (res) Amotz Greenberg, 45 from Hod Ha'sharon and Sgt Adar Bersano, 20 from Nahariya who fell this morning in combat while defending a Hamas infiltration attack in southern Israel. As well as to 1st Sgt. Eitan Barak, the first IDF casualty of this unfortunate conflict. May their memories be a blessing and never forgotten.

Sgt. Adar Bersano and Maj. Amotz Greenberg. יהי זכרם ברוך

1st Sgt. Eitan Barak, 20 from Herzilya. Z"L

Staff Sgt. Eitan Barak, 20, of Herzliya, a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade, was killed in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday, evidently by gunfire. Mortally wounded, he was taken to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, where he was pronounced dead. Army officials are investigating whether he was killed by friendly fire.

Maj. (Res.) Amotz Greenberg, 45, born on Kibbutz Yotvata and a resident of Hod Hasharon, was the father of three children aged 15, 12 and seven. Trained as an attorney, he worked as an investigator in the Israel Securities Authority. “He was an amazing person, the salt of the earth, and this is the most painful thing that has ever happened to me,” said Yossi Keret, Greenberg’s closest friend. “He went voluntarily, out of a feeling of mission. When we sat in a pub on Thursday, I asked him why he was doing it if he didn’t have to. But he just wanted to. He said, “If my soldiers are there, I don’t want to stay here.”

Sgt. Adar Barsano, 20, from Nahariyeh, enlisted in the Armored Corps as a combat soldier two years ago. “He was a good boy,” said Bar Schaps, a childhood friend of Barsano. “He took care of his friends before himself. He cheered everyone around him and made them laugh.” Schaps added, “Adar told me there was nothing to worry about, that it would all be over soon and we would meet at my house. He was a hero and he died as a hero. His family is crushed — his mother and father, grandfather and grandmother, must bury a son and grandson. Our hearts are broken.” 

Haaretz